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Post by crowblack on Nov 18, 2023 23:11:14 GMT
V. much looking forward to this. Seeing next week. Never watched the TV series, however. What could I do to best prepare. If anything. Thanks folks. The best thing to do is to watch the show, as suggested, as the production really will be difficult to appreciate without knowing the show. If you don't have the time, on YouTube, the "Man of Recaps" channel recaps the whole show in three wonderful humorous videos. He really is the best recapper in the business, as he never misses an important plot point and he's very funny. Typically you'd watch that channel to remind yourself what you've already seen, but in your case, if needs must lol.  Do the recaps cover season 4 too? From the sound of it, that's very relevant here as it's when the supernatural villain Vecna - Henry Creel, as a boy - is introduced and shows a bit of his 1950s backstory that's expanded on in the stage play. If you have Netflix, you can fast forward to the bits with the adult characters to get a flavour of their relationships. |
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Post by Steve on Nov 18, 2023 23:53:07 GMT
Do the recaps cover season 4 too? From the sound of it, that's very relevant here as it's when the supernatural villain Vecna - Henry Creel, as a boy - is introduced and shows a bit of his 1950s backstory that's expanded on in the stage play. If you have Netflix, you can fast forward to the bits with the adult characters to get a flavour of their relationships. Yes. Man of Recaps covers Seasons 1 and 2 together, then Season 3 alone, and then there's his critical video (vis a vis understanding the background of this show): "Stranger Things: Season 4 RECAP." But I would watch all three videos, as it is considerably less than an hour all put together.
I'm not linking, cos I understand we don't do that here, but just search Youtube.  |
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Post by dillan on Nov 19, 2023 20:01:31 GMT
I won the lottery for this and seeing it on Friday - very excited and can you let you all know which seats they're offering.
I also bought regular tickets when they went on sale a while ago - restricted view C1 and C2, does anyone that's been know how restricted these look? I've been to the theatre before and I can't imagine it actually being that bad..
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Post by interval99 on Nov 20, 2023 21:35:56 GMT
After all that sold out until January notices the ATG site is showing a fair number of seats avaliable especially for second part of December.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 22, 2023 8:52:30 GMT
Where is a photo of the set? Perhaps referencing the production photo that was released yesterday. It doesn’t show set but lots of projection use. well it looked amazing. But what is the projection for? |
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Post by Dannyboi on Nov 23, 2023 9:02:19 GMT
Attended last nights preview, here’s my thoughts
Show started on time at 7.30 last night, 20 minute interval, so done by 10.50. If they don’t cut anything when regular performances start this will mean a 10.20 finish, which is reasonable.
Merch: SOOO much stuff, spread across three stands, but the only one selling the full range was a large display in a bar upstairs, so make sure you have a good look around. Can’t help but think a lot of people missed out on the clothing because it’s only sold in one place. Prices aren’t too bad, 25 for a t shirt.
The staff were incredibly anal about the stickers over the phones, repeatedly asking before the auditorium was open whether you had one, then checking your phone every time you went in, or out, or to another level lol. Got annoying after a bit, and useless anyway, as a scouse father and daughter next to me just peeled the sticker down and were taking photos of the stage before it started anyway! 😂
The show itself? Firstly, the acting was phenomenal, especially among the young cast members, they were really going for it. Young Henry creel carries the show and he’s amazing, so intense. The performances across the board are definitely the main the draw for this show.
The effects are mind blowing, especially at the start and all through the first act. Like others have said I feel it lacks a big finale though, as impressive as all the set pieces are throughout the show, it could have done with a big bang at the end, instead it just…. ends. Kind of makes you feel a little anticlimactic when the curtain call starts, like, oh… that’s it? There really is some amazing stage trickery though, being a long time theatre goer and on the third row lol, i could never not work out how things were being done, but they were fabulous all the same.
Accessibility to the story: I think a thorough knowledge of the show is needed to fully appreciate this, and I don’t just mean you’ve watched it, I mean you know every character’s full name lol. So many Easter eggs regarding characters parents etc. They don’t really explain much of the lore of the show either, couldn’t help think you wouldn’t have a clue what was going on if you’re not a fan.
Final thoughts: if you’re a fan, highly recommended. Not for non fans but I guess if you don’t like the tv show why would you even be there anyway? 🤷🏻♂️ The show IS long, there’s a few bits I would cut to make it a bit more snappy but don’t know if they will. As much as I love musicals, the big dance number could definitely go, doesn’t fit in at all and just seems like a waste of time. Also, there’s some silly larking about that doesn’t progress the story that could go too.
Do I think it’ll be a hit? Hard to say once all the fans have seen it. Can’t see it being huge like cursed child, as popular as the franchise is it’s not Harry Potter, and the show really does rely on you absolutely knowing the source material backward and forward to get full enjoyment out of it 🤷🏻♂️
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Post by theatreloverlondon on Nov 23, 2023 13:30:18 GMT
I so want to go but I’ve never watched an episode in my life lol
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Post by Rory on Nov 23, 2023 14:41:54 GMT
I so want to go but I’ve never watched an episode in my life lol I'm the same. I'd better start watching it. |
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Post by alessia on Nov 23, 2023 15:10:12 GMT
Do watch it, it's one of the very few good things on Netflix- and even though it's a few series, they are short and can be binged quickly.
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Post by viserys on Nov 24, 2023 16:48:39 GMT
I got a mail that my matinee performance has been moved from 2pm to 1pm "to ensure that the technical team has sufficient time to prepare the stage between the matinee and evening shows" - wow, that sounds busy |
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Post by mrbarnaby on Nov 25, 2023 14:32:30 GMT
I got a mail that my matinee performance has been moved from 2pm to 1pm "to ensure that the technical team has sufficient time to prepare the stage between the matinee and evening shows" - wow, that sounds busy Oh dear- that’s gonna catch a lot of people out I imagine! |
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Post by mrnutz on Nov 26, 2023 9:52:45 GMT
I was really looking forward to this but I left somewhat disappointed. I'll say more in the spoilers thread at some point and I know it's still in previews so expect (and hope!) for revisions, but for me: - Far too long, a number of scenes could be trimmed or cut entirely. There's an entire subplot that IMO doesn't need to exist - Pacing in general needs considerable tightening - will hopefully come after previews - The story is THIN. I guess necessarily as a prequel to a TV series that hasn't yet released its final season, the play can't give information that's required to understand what's happening in the TV show. Nothing drives the story forward. - Some great effects, but nothing that hasn't been done elsewhere - and some elements not quite working as they should with a fair element of clunk and a rather comical moment where something that I presume should have happened earlier in a scene happened during a set change - Quite a bit of filler between a handful of big scenes - remove some of the filler, keep the killer, and this could be a show with much more impact - There's no emotion to be found - at no point did I really *feel* anything for any of the characters - Patrick Vaill -  - A being-somewhat-kind-because-I-know-it's-in-previews 3/5 |
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Post by mrnutz on Nov 26, 2023 9:55:06 GMT
In terms of timings last night (Saturday 25th Nov) - 7.30pm start, about 90 minutes per half with a 20 minute interval. Left the theatre at 22.50.
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Post by edi on Nov 26, 2023 18:53:59 GMT
V. much looking forward to this. Seeing next week. Never watched the TV series, however. What could I do to best prepare. If anything. Thanks folks. How did you find it? I've never seen the show, know nothing about it and I don't even have Netflix to binge watch it. But I'm curious, want to see it.... |
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Post by stepha on Nov 27, 2023 11:05:55 GMT
I saw this on Thursday and really enjoyed it.
I am a fan of the show and it is very much targeted towards those who have watched the show and although there is plenty to appreciate if you watch it without having seen the show, I don't think it will hit in the same way.
There was a lot of information to help with filling gaps in our understanding of the show which will obviously be built on in series 5.
The opening sequence was excellent and got a rapturous applause. It really let you know how true they were going to stay to the atmosphere of the show.
The acting was excellent, I didn't feel like I was watching a preview. Louis McCartney as Henry Creel was incredible, but I think he must need physio after the performance the way he contorts and uses his body!
The effects were excellent, as you would expect and the staging worked really well.
A couple of people have mentioned not loving the ending but I actually thought it was perfect considering they intend this to be a bridge between series 4 and 5, I didn't feel like I needed a big cliff hanger.
I do think a few sequences can be tightened up and shortened and I'll definitely be returning further into the run.
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Post by MusicalTalk on Nov 27, 2023 11:11:56 GMT
I saw it last week. Managed to get a seat in row E on the aisle for £62… I don’t know how!
I’m not hugely familiar with the series but I watched the catchup series mentioned earlier in this thread and that was useful.
It’s too long but it’s engrossing with wonderful staging, effects (one involving a small creature blew my mind) and the design was great though I didn’t like the revolve always moving during some scenes.
The theatre however is a mess. One tiny loo for the men in the stalls, right corridors and a confusing layout. It needs a complete refurb.
Dare I coin a new term for this type of play - along with cursed child and refer to this as a “mega play”.
Overall I loved it!
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Post by marob on Nov 27, 2023 16:26:37 GMT
Had the email last week from ATG about the earlier start on the matinees. They’ve followed that up just now with a text. Good to see them putting the info out there. Never had a text off them before.
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Post by theatremiss on Nov 27, 2023 17:28:20 GMT
Had the email last week from ATG about the earlier start on the matinees. They’ve followed that up just now with a text. Good to see them putting the info out there. Never had a text off them before. Same here |
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Post by mprlibre on Nov 27, 2023 19:05:58 GMT
I also got an email that our matinee start time is now 1 PM. Just have to rearrange our lunch plans that day.
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Post by c4ndyc4ne on Nov 27, 2023 20:29:35 GMT
I saw it last week. Managed to get a seat in row E on the aisle for £62… I don’t know how! I’m not hugely familiar with the series but I watched the catchup series mentioned earlier in this thread and that was useful. It’s too long but it’s engrossing with wonderful staging, effects (one involving a small creature blew my mind) and the design was great though I didn’t like the revolve always moving during some scenes. The theatre however is a mess. One tiny loo for the men in the stalls, right corridors and a confusing layout. It needs a complete refurb. Dare I coin a new term for this type of play - along with cursed child and refer to this as a “mega play”. Overall I loved it! If you head up the stairs next to the stalls gents and reach the Charing Cross Road bar, there’s a big new set of gents - a lot quieter ! |
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Post by MusicalTalk on Nov 28, 2023 9:01:10 GMT
Thanks!! I did wonder up there to have a look but it was so busy there I didn’t notice anything!! |
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Post by Boob on Nov 30, 2023 9:55:01 GMT
For those interested, last night’s performance came to about three hours including interval. According to Daldry, new scenes and pieces of set were introduced that day.
Would definitely go back once this has bedded in.
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Post by fiyerorocher on Nov 30, 2023 10:46:03 GMT
Surprisingly little buzz for this around... I couldn't give a ticket away!
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Post by mrnutz on Nov 30, 2023 12:20:32 GMT
For those interested, last night’s performance came to about three hours including interval. According to Daldry, new scenes and pieces of set were introduced that day. Would definitely go back once this has bedded in. Interesting! 30 mins cut and yet new scenes added! Please share more details in the spoilers thread? |
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Post by althea on Nov 30, 2023 12:38:30 GMT
Ticket for Saturday night - front row of the Dress on the notice board if anyone’s interested. £57 instead of £125.
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